USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 59
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C, 35th Ill. Inf .; George and John S., in Co. H., 84th Ill. Inf .; and Andrew M. in 9th Ill. Cav. Of the six all returned home but George, who fell at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, January 1, 1863. After leav- ing the service Jesse returned to Mercer county, in October, 1865, but did not remain long. During the next few years he resided in a num- ber of places : Newago county, Mich .; Boone county, Iowa ; Chey- enne, and Bridger's Station, Wyoming Territory ; Fairfield, Iowa ; and St. Charles, Mo., returning to this county frequently. In 1870. he went south, and on December 31 of that year landed at Wessen, Mis- sissippi, where he remained until 1873, when he spent a few months in Kentucky, returning to Wessen in November. January 7, 1874, he met with an accident in the machine shops of that place, causing the loss of his left eye. Was married October 15, 1871, in Wesson ; lost his eldest child in July, 1881, and his wife in August, 1881. He has one child, a boy, aged four, and is again married. In 1881, he removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he is now engaged in the drug busi- ness, and has secured a large and lucrative custom. He was elected mayor of Wesson, Mississippi, in 1875, and re-elected in 1877 ; belongs to the Presbyterian church, the Masons, Odd-Fellows and Knights of Pythias. His life has been one of constant labor ; he has been a farmer, merchant, engineer ; has engaged in saw-milling and railroad- ing, and is now settled as a druggist. While in some of these he has lost, he has, as a whole, been successful, and is now in comfortable cir- cumstances. He still cherishes a warm feeling for his old home and friends in Mercer county.
LUCIEN B. DOUGHTY, son of Rev. Thomas L. and Mary J. Doughty, was born March 28, 1841, in Knightstown, Henry county, Indiana. The life of Mr. Doughty has been one of activity and large experience. He lacked six years of having attained his manhood when with his father's consent he started out into the world, to battle with its hard- ships singlehanded, not only to make a living for himself but to assist his father, which he did by turning over to him his small wages. The family had moved to New Boston in 1843, when Lucian was two years old, and here he received such education as the schools and his limited time afforded. He improved his time then and since, as is evidenced by some very acceptable articles contributed to this work. In the fall of 1851 the family moved to the northwest corner of Warren county, and in 1856 Lucien began active life as intimated above on a farm. A year later he entered the "Record" office at Aledo to learn the printer's trade, in which business he has been constantly engaged with the exception of a few important years, as hereafter noted. In 1859 he was working on the Genesco "Republic," and next year went to Des
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Moines. Iowa (1860), and worked on the Iowa State " Register." part of the time on local work. The alarm of war had scarcely been sounded when Mr. Doughty entered the ranks as a soldier for the pur- pose of assisting in rebuking rebellion, and enlisted in Co. E, 4th Iowa Inf .. Capt. H. H. Griffith, Col. G. M. Dodge. He had nearly served out his term of three years when he re-enlisted as a veteran in January, 1864. at Woodville, Alabama. He was finally discharged July 28, 1865, having served his country and braved the dangers and hardships incident to war over four years. His experience as a soldier can be gathered from a brief mention of the marches and engagements of the regiment to which he belonged. From St. Louis, their starting point, they went to Rolla, Missouri ; then to Pea Ridge and Helena, Arkan- sas ; thence with Sherman at Walnut Hills, Arkansas Post, and back to Vicksburg ; with Grant to Jackson, Mississippi ; in the siege of Vicksburg ; back to Jackson ; with Sherman, under John A. Logan, from Iuka to Chattanooga; with Hooker in the "fight above the clouds "; at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold ; thirty days at home in the spring of 1864 on veteran's furlough ; again with Sherman from Chattanooga, Atlanta, and the march to the sea; thence through the Carolinas and finally to Washington to participate in the grand review. May 23. 1865. To look at the little man it seems a wonder that he could go through so much. In all he was in forty- three engagements and escaped without a wound. After the war he was for a time in Richmond, Indiana, and in Dayton, Ohio. From May. 1866, to May, 1867, he published the " Democrat " at Eaton, Ohio, and in the fall of the last mentioned year removed to Des Moines, Iowa. and the next year to Rolla, Missouri, where he edited the Rolla "Herald." In 1869 he got back to his old stamping ground, Aledo, and worked nearly four years in a carriage shop. At the end of this time he again entered the "Record " office, where he has since been engaged. August 16, 1866, he was married to Miss Fannie E. Hayes, of Eaton. To them was born one son, James Henry. June 10, 1867, and on August 12, 1869, his wife died and on the next day his son. July 16, 1871, Mr. Doughty was again married, this time to Clara D. Pennell, of Rock Island. To them three children have been born : Josie Amelia, born January 8, 1873 ; Charles Eli, February 2, 1875, and Clara Emma, March 18, 1878 (died April 19, 1878).
FRANCIS LEMON, jeweler, is the fourth son of William and Ellen (Lockhart) Lemon, of Mercer county. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1849, came west with his parents in 1852, and settled in Perryton township, Mercer county. He received a common school education, and remained on his father's farm till
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1874, when he came to Aledo and embarked in the grocery business, which he followed about one year. Mr. Lemon being a natural me- chanical genius, had spent his leisure time while on the farm in learn- ing the watchmaking trade, and in the fall of 1876 he opened up busi- ness in the jewelry line in Aledo, where, by care and attention to busi- ness, he has built up a good trade in his line.
LOUIS D. HOLMES, attorney, was born July 24, 1847, in Adams county, Ohio. He was the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Traber) Holmes, both of whom were natives of Adams county, Ohio. He spent his early life upon a farm, and working in a saw mill until his nineteenth year. He received a common school education, and in ad- dition graduated at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, where he took his degree in 1868. He came west in April, 1869, and entered the law office of Bassett & Connell; was admitted to the bar in August, 1871, and has practiced his profession in Aledo ever since. He was married in May, 1872, to Miss C. W. Campbell, of Ripley. Ohio, and has two children. Mr. Holmes is a prominent member of the Baptist church, also a member of the board of trustees of the town of Aledo, and politically is a republican.
DR. D. R. JOHNSTON was born August 21, 1842, in Logan county. Ohio, he being the third son of Rev. Dr. J. B. Johnston, of the United Presbyterian church. He received his education at Geneva College, Ohio, and attended both the medical college of Ohio at Cincinnati and Rush Medical College of Chicago, taking his degree as M.D. from the latter institution, in 1865. At the breaking out of the war he entered the army with the 17th reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., and in 1864 was appointed by Gov. Morton assistant surgeon of the 1st Indiana heavy artil- lery. He practiced medicine in Indianapolis from 1865 to 1868, when he was appointed by the board of foreign missions of the United Presbyterian church as medical missionary to Egypt, where he spent eight years, part of which time he was president of the training college at Osiout, upper Egypt. The doctor returned to the United States in the spring of 1876, and in the fall of that year located in Mansfield, Ohio, where he remained till April 1, 1881. In the summer of 1881 he came to Aledo and bought the drug store of Dr. J. M. Wallace, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He was married Decem- ber 25. 1868. to Miss Maggie J. Stewart, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and has had four children, of whom two died in Egypt and two are living. Dr. Johnston is a member of the United Presbyterian church of Aledo, and superintendent of its Sabbath school, and by political faith is a republican.
KENNETH M. WHITHAM was born, September, 1856, in Mercer
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county. He is the oldest son of Rev. Jos. R. and Elizabeth (McCoy) Whitham. He is a graduate of the Aledo academy, and attended college at Battle Creek, Michigan, for two years, and since returning from that institution has been engaged in teaching in Mercer county. He is at present principal of the grammar department of the public schools of Aledo, and is president of the Mercer County Teachers' Association.
LUKE STRONG, photographer, was born in Clarendon, Rutland county, Vermont, in 1825. His parents were Luke and Esther (Call) Strong. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Indiana and settled near Indianapolis ; and in 1839 they again moved westward and settled in Galesburg, Illinois. Mr. Strong graduated from Knox College. Galesburg, in 1850, when he went to Pottsdam, New York, and read law for a year; thence going to Oquawka, where he taught school for two years. He then embarked in the photograph business at the latter place, where he remained for twenty-one years. In April, 1874, he came to Aledo and engaged in business, building the large gallery which he now occupies. He was married in 1855 to Miss Ann Mckinney, eldest daughter of John Mckinney, of Aledo; has two children (boys) living, Fred H. and Geo. McK., who are both gradu- ates of the Aledo high school. Mr. Strong is a member of the masonic fraternity, and politically a republican.
DR. JAMES A. CAMPBELL, dentist. was born in 1855, in Brown county, Ohio, the only son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Williams) Campbell. He spent his boyhood upon the farm of his father, until the year 1873, when for two years he attended the Aledo academy. He began the study of dentistry with Dr. E. B. David in 1875, with whom he remained one year, and then went to Philadelphia, where he attended the Philadelphia Dental College three terms. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Aledo and opened a dental office. In Septem- ber, 1878, he removed to Creston, Iowa, where he practiced his profession two years. and again returned to Aledo and opened the office which he occupies at present in his practice. Dr. Campbell was married, November 15, 1880, to Miss Laura E. Mentzor, of Aledo.
. GEORGE M. COOL, druggist, was born in Aledo, September 28, 1858, and is the second son of Jacob and Margaret (McEowen) Cool. He received his education in the public schools of Aledo, and in his seven- teenth year commenced learning the drug business with James M. Macy, lately deceased. He has remained ever since in the same situa- tion. Mrs. James M. Macy (sister of Mr. Cool) owning the store, and Mr. Cool doing the business.
JAMES H. RAMSEY, jeweler, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, February 14,
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1847 ; he is the second son of John and Nancy Ramsey. He attended school at Cadiz till his fourteenth year, when he was apprenticed to G. B. Barrett, jeweler, of Cadiz, and served six years, when he went into business for himself. He remained in Cadiz for two years, when he sold out his business and went to Freeport, Pennsylvania, where he remained one year, and then went to Greencastle, Indiana, and was there about one year when he came to Aledo, where he commenced business in May, 1871, and where he now remains. Mr. Ramsey was married February 29. 1876, to Miss Sallie Willson, eldest daughter of J. M. Willson. Esq .. of Aledo, and has two small children.
JOHN F. MCBRIDE, dealer in dry goods, was born November 23, 1853, in Ohio Grove township, Mercer county ; he is the eldest son of J. C. and H. E. (Williams) McBride. Ile came to Aledo in 1870, and began his business career as clerk in the dry goods house of Poage & Senters, in January, 1871, in which capacity he remained till the year 1877. when he embarked in trade for himself in the dry goods business in partnership with Geo. P. Graham. In the fall of 1880 he bought out his partner's interest and has been since in business for himself. Mr. McBride was married May 13, 1879, to Miss Edna D. Kirlin, of New Boston. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and by polit- ical faith a republican.
REV. THOMAS B. TURNBULL was born April 27, 1847, in Warren county, Illinois ; his parents were David and Naney (Mitchell) Turn- bull. His boyhood was passed upon the farm of his father, the man- agement of which devolved upon him at the age of sixteen by reason of the enlistment of his three older brothers in the army at the begin- ning of the war of the rebellion. In 1863 he entered Monmouth College and graduated from that institution in June. 1870. He spent the next three years in studying theology, attending the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Monmouth two years, and the Allegheny City Seminary one year, and was licensed to preach August. 1872. Receiv- ing a call the same year from the United Presbyterian congregation of Aledo, which was accepted, he was ordained and installed pastor thereof in April, 1873; of this church he is the present pastor. Mr. Turnbull was married April 24, 1873, to Miss Jean M. Ilorne, of Monmouth, Illinois, and has three children living : Willie, David and Susie, aged six years, four years, and eight months, respectively. Ilis eldest child, a daughter, died at the age of seven years.
M. F. FELIX, dealer in dry goods, was born in March, 1828, in eastern Pennsylvania, and is the youngest son of Francis and Rose A. Felix. His boyhood, till his seventeenth year, was passed upon the farm of his father, at which period he was apprenticed to the cabinet
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maker's trade, at which he served his time, and for which services he never received a dollar of pay. Mr. Felix came west about the year 1847, and settled for a time in Iowa City, Iowa, from where he went to Qunicy, Illinois, and worked at his trade a short time, and went to Indiana. He came back to Illinois, and about the year 1850 or 1851, went into the dry goods business in Rock Island county, where he remained till 1876, when he came to Aledo and established himself in his present location and business. Mr. Felix was married in 1854, to Miss Eliza Vanatta, of Illinois City, Rock Island county, Illinois, and has four children : Rose, Benjamin (who is married to Miss Clara Woods, and is in business with his father), Emma, and Lizzie. Mr. Felix belongs to the masonic fraternity, is president of the board of trustees of Aledo, and politically is a republican.
TYLER MCWHORTER was born in Steuben county, New York, August 29, 1815. His parent's names were James and Anna (Parker) Me Whorter. His ancestry on his father's side was Scotch. The name of Tyler was given him by reason of the fact that his grandmother, whose maiden name was Tyler, was first cousin of president John Tyler, of Virginia. Mr. McWhorter never had the advantage of a regular college course of education, but his leisure hours, both in his early and later life, were devoted to a studious and searching course of reading. At the age of twenty-one he went to Branch county Michi- gan, where he followed school teaching, and during two years had charge of the public school of Coldwater, the county seat of Branch county, Michigan. While engaged in teaching he applied his leisure time to a close study of higher mathematics, and was subsequently elected county surveyor of Branch county. He married his first wife in Michigan, in May, 1842. She was a woman of culture, though of a delicate physical organization. In the spring of 1845 he moved from Michigan to Illinois, and located in Duncan township, Mercer county, three miles west of Millersburg, and engaged in horticulture. His nursery, under the name of "Pome Roy Nursery," became extensively known and patronized. At his Pome Roy place, he raised an exten- sive market orchard, which is the largest in the county. His horticul- tural business afforded an ample field of investigation for the inquir- ing proclivities of his mind. During the early years of his residence in Mercer county, Mr. Mc Whorter was elected school commissioner of the county, an office which he held for two successive terms. Also, while a resident of Duncan township, he held for twenty years the office of township treasurer. Mr. McWhorter, by his first wife, had three children, all of whom are living in Iowa. He married his pres- ent wife August, 1859, her maiden name was Clara M. Luce. Of this
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union there is one child, a boy, Laon A. McWhorter, now twenty years of age, who lives with his parents. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Mc Whorter moved from his Pome Roy place to his present location, one mile south of Aledo. Mr. MeW. has been connected with the horticultural societies of the State for nearly thirty years. In 1869, he presided over the State Horticultural Society of Illinois, and in 1873 presided over the northern state society. Mr. McWhorter is continu- ally a student of nature. What time he could spare from secular busi- ness has been devoted to scientifie investigation ; allowing himself also some time to travel, he made a trip to Vicksburg during the war, and has since made an extensive tour of the southern states. He has been for eleven years a member of the "American Association for the Advancement of Science," in attending the annual meetings of which he has had occasion to visit various parts of the United States and Canada. He is also a member of the State Natural History Society, of Illinois. Mr. MeWhorter, though now in his sixty-eighth year, is in complete possession of all his natural strong faculties of both mind and body, is hale and hearty and thoroughly enjoys life.
MILTON S. BOISE was born in Burgettstown, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1827 ; came west in 1854, and settled in Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, and went into the grocery business, which he carried on for some three or four years, when, after spending a year or so looking up a favorable place for business, he came to Aledo, and went into the book and news business, the first house of, that character started in the place. This business he carried on for over two years, when he started a soap factory, and also a wholesale grocery, queens- ware and notion store, which business he is now engaged in, running two store rooms in different parts of the town. Mr. Boise was married in 1846 to Miss Rebecca Mitchell, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. They have two children living, Joseph, aged twenty-two, and Horace, fourteen. Mr. Boise is a trustee of the congregational church of Aledo, is a member of the masonic fraternity, and in politics is a member of the democratic party.
DR. E. B. DAVID, dentist, was born in Ontario county, New York, June 8, 1835; his parents were Uri and Catharine David, and they moved to Michigan when he was three years old and settled in Jackson county. The doctor remained in Michigan till the spring of 1858, when he came to Mercer county. In 1853 he began the study of den- tistry with Dr. M. S. Dean, of Marshall, Michigan, now of Chicago. Dr. David entered the union army during the war of the rebellion. He enlisted August 12, 1861, in the 30th Ill. Inf., and served three years and three months. His army experience embraced the engage-
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ments of Belmont, Fort Donelson, siege of Corinth, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson (Mississippi), Champion Hill, Vicksburg, and siege of Atlanta. He was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 17, 1864, with the rank of captain, in command of company A, 30th Ill. Inf. He then came back to Mercer county and settled in New Windsor, where he owned a farm, working at dentistry part of the time. Here he remained till November, 1873, when he came to Aledo and commenced his practice, and where he now remains, the senior partner of the firm of David & Coulson. Dr. David was a member of the Aledo town board of trustees for four terms, from 1876 to 1880, dur- ing the last two years serving as president of the body. He has been a member of the county agricultural board for nine years, and is a mem- ber of the state board of agriculture. Dr. D. was married September 1, 1862, to Miss Lizzie Woodham, of New Windsor, and has five chil- dren. He is a member of the Baptist church, and by political faith is a republican.
WILLIAM ANDERSON COLE was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1847, and is the son of Aaron and Mary Ellen Cole. He lived in Brown county, Ohio, till he was twenty-two years of age, working on a farm during his boyhood (going to school during the winter), up to the period of his removal. He settled in Viola, Mercer county, in 1871. He was the first colored man who drove the United States mail in the State of Illinois, he being so engaged during the years 1872 and 1873. He came to Aledo and commenced working at the barber trade in 1874, still carrying on the business under the firm name of Cole & Wade. He was married in 1872, to Miss Catharine Glasscock, and they have three children living. Mr. Cole puts himself on record as a member of the republican party.
JOHN WEBSTER DILLEY was born in Mercer county in January, 1840. His parents, William and Eliza (Moorehead) Dilley, were among the early settlers of Mercer county. The subject of this sketch spent most of his life upon a farm, and was so engaged upon the breaking out of the war, when, on July 24, 1862, he enlisted in the army in Co. H, 84th Ill. Inf. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Look- ont mountain, Mission Ridge, siege of Chattanooga, Ringgold, Georgia, campaign of Atlanta, Franklin, and Nashville, and was mustered out June 8, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee. In 1869 he was elected county clerk, and held that office four years ; for a short time after this he was engaged in the grocery business, and again went upon the farm and spent several years, when he finally removed to Aledo. He filled the office of deputy sheriff of the county for two years, after which he was elected justice of the peace, which office he still retains, and is also clerk
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of the town of Aledo. He was married in October, 1865, to Miss Mary J. Rose, and has three children. He is a member of the republican party.
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON was born in Clinton' county, Ohio, March 28, 1829, he being the youngest son of Dr. A. W. and Elizabeth (Scarff) Thompson. When a child his parents moved to Lawrence- burgh, Indiana, where they lived several years, and then moved back to Xenia, Ohio, where his father practiced his profession till his death. When about sixteen years old Mr. Thompson went to Washington C. H., Ohio, and clerked in a dry goods store for six years, when he came west and settled in New Boston, Mercer county, Illinois, where le formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, J. C. Bell, in the dry goods and pork packing business. In this business he continued until 1859, when he sold his interest to his partner. Under the first admin- istration of President Lincoln Mr. Thompson was appointed postmas- ter of New Boston and held the office for about eight years, when he resigned, and in 1871 came to Aledo and went into his present busi- ness of real estate dealer and collector. He has been in Aledo since the above date with the exception of a year's absence in 1875 which he spent in Los Angelos, California. Mr. Thompson was married in 1858 to Miss Josie C. Denison, of New Boston. They have had four children, only one of whom is living, a son eleven years of age. Polit- ically Mr. Thompson is a democrat.
REV. JOHN T. HOYE was born in Trigg county, Kentucky. April 6. 1852, he being the second son of Henry and Elizabeth Hoye. He left Kentucky with his parents when about seven years of age, they settling in northern Missouri, and living there till the close of the war, when they removed to Kansas City. Mr. Hoye had the advantage of the common schools in boyhood and in his twenty-third year entered the William Jewell College, of Liberty, Missouri, with a view of pre- paring himself for the ministry. He attended here for five years, when he entered the Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville. Ken- tucky. after attending which for two years he began missionary work in Missouri, where he labored a short time, and after preaching a short time in Reynolds, this state, he was called to preach for his present charge, the Baptist church of Aledo. Mr. Hove was married June 29, 1SS1, to Miss Lucy W. DeHoney, of Louisville, Kentucky.
J. M. WILLIS was born in 1849 in Guernsey county, Ohio, and is the son of Robert and Prudence (Spear) Willis. He left Guernsey county when nineteen years of age and went to Cass county. Missouri, where he farmed for six years. He then came to Mercer county and went to farming, at which he continued for five years, when he was
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